DEFEAT AND DEATH OF ALEXANDER BALA

[283] ALEXANDER took the kingdom of Syria, and wrote to King Ptolemy, of Egypt, asking him for his daughter in
marriage. Ptolemy was glad to secure a powerful ally in this way. The wedding was celebrated
with great pomp and splendor. Jonathan was invited to attend it, and when he came he was
received with the highest honors. King Alexander made him take off his garments and put on
instead a purple robe, and sit with him on his own throne.

The reign of Alexander was not a long one. The son of Demetrius, who was called Demetrius
also, claimed his father's throne, and made war against Alexander. Ptolemy led an army into
Syria to assist his son-in-law. But that ungrateful and foolish prince treacherously conspired
against the life of Ptolemy. The latter discovered the plot, and was so angry that he at once took
his army over to the young Demetrius. Alexander was defeated and dethroned, and fled into
Arabia. But it happened that in the battle Ptolemy's horse took fright at the bellowing of an
elephant and threw his rider. Some of the soldiers of the enemy saw the accident, and rushing
to where Ptolemy lay, they inflicted many dangerous wounds before they could be driven off
by the Egyptians. Ptolemy was taken up mortally wounded, and died on the fifth day afterwards.
Just before his death he received a present of the head of his enemy Alexander, sent him by an
Arab chief to whom the defeated monarch had fled.

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